A Vietnamese government delegation is in Rome for the second meeting of the "Joint Working Group" between Vietnam and the Vatican, which has the official aim of continuing the process of normalization of diplomatic relations. The delegation, says the government press, is led by deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son and includes officials from the Ministry for Public Security and the Committee for Religious Affairs.
Regarding the actual situation in the country, the Episcopal Conference is to address "the human crisis and internal conflicts." Vietnamese Catholics are losing faith in government and in the "religious organization". Such a thing had never happened before, within the Vietnamese Church.
Moreover, the Vatican has recently heard from some Vietnamese bishops and some religious working in Rome, but was unable to speak with bishops from all 26 dioceses, about the problems they face.
And although the issues to be resolved are declining, it is necessary that the Vatican and the government find solutions to them.
Since 2008, the Holy See has appointed seven Vietnamese bishops and the bishops have ordained hundreds of priests, but Catholics still lack unity. Why?
"We are confused,- many believers tell AsiaNews - we do not know who the real Vietnamese Catholics are or the ‘fake religions’ in the local Church and in society."
Others, however, say: "we have faith in the love of Jesus and the Church, we pray to God and the Holy Spirit. We are not afraid of evil. "
Diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Vietnam will make sense when "the two countries" trust each other.And they can not allow the faithful or Vietnamese Catholics lose confidence in them.
SIC: AN